Decision makers

Congress: Pass the Puppy Uniform Safety and Protection Act (PUPS Act)

PUPS is important in order to make sure that all breeders of dogs have to be licensed with the USDA and comply with standards set forth by the Animal Welfare Act. Currently, the Animal Welfare Act and the USDA only inspect commercial breeders who sell their puppies to a wholesaler, for example a pet store. With the passage of PUPS, breeders who sell thier dogs remotely, to the public through the Internet, newspaper and telephone will have to become licesned under the USDA and follow humane standards set forth by the Animal Welfare Act. Such standards include health care, proper sanitation, excersie and cage specifications to name a few.

Thank you for taking the time to review my concerns about the humane treatment of animal. I believe it is necessary to support the PUPS Act because breeders who sell remotely to the public need to have oversight. The PUPS Act would ensure that breeders of these types of businesses would adhere to oversight from the USDA by becoming licensed and inspected. Also required to meet Animal Welfare Act standards of humane treatment and handling of animals.By Supporting the PUPS Act, the Animal Welfare act will be updated to include modern forms of communication, such as the Internet. Currently, the AWA and USDA only oversee commercial breeders that sell to a wholesaler. Breeders that sell their puppies directly to the public are exempt from maintaining any forms of federally regulated standards. The PUPS Act will redefine what it means to be a “high volume breeder” to include remote sales. Breeders who sell 50 dog or more in one year directly to the public will have to follow AWA standards and be licensed under the USDA. By passing PUPS into a law we are saving puppies lives by ensuring that they will have clean water, proper food, sanitation, exercise and socialization. With the passage of PUPS we are ensuring them a better life, one that is humane. Again, thank you for your time, I urge you to consider the PUPS Act and I look forward to your support.